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CONFERENCE HOSTS

Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Auer

Trained as a Process Engineer at the Technical University in Stuttgart, Thomas Auer is a partner and managing director of Transsolar GmbH, a German engineering firm specialized in energy efficient building design and environmental quality with offices in Stuttgart, Munich, Paris and New York. In January of 2014 he became Professor for building technology and climate responsive design at the Technical University of Munich.

Thomas Auer collaborated with world known architecture firms on numerous international design projects and competitions. A specialist in the fields of integrated building systems and energy efficiency in buildings as well as sustainable urban design, he has developed concepts for projects around the world noted for their innovative design and energy performance – an integral part of signature architecture. The office tower for Manitoba Hydro in downtown Winnipeg, Canada is considered one of the most energy efficient high-rise buildings in North America. Lower Don lands, Toronto is going to be among the first carbon neutral districts in North America.

Outside of Transsolar, Thomas Auer taught at Yale University and was a visiting professor at the ESA in Paris and other Universities. He speaks frequently at conferences and symposia. In 2010 he received the Treehugger “best of green” award as “best engineer”.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jens Schneider

Jens Schneider is a full professor for structural engineering at the Institute of Structural Mechanics and Design, TU Darmstadt (Germany). After his studies in civil engineering in Darmstadt and Coimbra (Portugal), he received his PhD from TU Darmstadt in 2001 in a topic about structural glass design.

From 2001-2005 he worked at the engineering office Schlaich, Bergermann and Partner, where he was involved in the structural design of complex steel, glass and concrete structures. In 2006 he was appointed as an authorized sworn expert on glass structures, in 2007 to the position of a professor for structural engineering in Frankfurt and in 2009 to his current position at TU Darmstadt. Since 2011, he is also partner in his engineering office SGS GmbH in Heusenstamm / Frankfurt. Since 2015, he leads the European project group for the preparation of the new Eurocode 11 „Structural Glass“.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Knaack

Ulrich Knaack was trained as an architect at the RWTH Aachen, Germany. After earning his degree he worked at the university as researcher in the field of structural use of glass and completed his studies with a PhD.

In his professional career Ulrich Knaack worked as architect and general planner in Düsseldorf, Germany, succeeding in national and international competitions. His projects include high-rise and office buildings, commercial buildings and stadiums.

In his academic career Ulrich Knaack was professor for Design and Construction at the Hochschule OWL, Germany. He also was and still is appointed professor for Design of Construction at the Delft University of Technology / Faculty of Architecture in the Netherlands, where he developed the Façade Research Group. In parallel he is professor for Façade Technology at the TU Darmstadt / Faculty of Civil engineering, Germany, where he participates in the Institute of Structural Mechanics and Design.

Ulrich Knaack organizes interdisciplinary design workshops and symposiums in the field of façades and is author of several well-known reference books, articles and lectures.